Salem – Alverda Ruth Swope, 89, of Leetonia, passed away early Friday, May 19 at Essex of Salem.

Mrs. Swope was born on April 4, 1928 in Shickley, NE, a daughter of the late William and Mabel (Augustine) Stoltzfus.  Her husband, Wilmer D. Swope, whom she married on October 19, 1952, preceded her in death on February 1, 2010.

A homemaker, she also worked part-time as a cook for Crestview Schools.  Alverda was a member of Midway Mennonite Church.  In her younger years, she served in Voluntary Service (VS) for the church, and attended classes at Hesston College, Hesston, KS.  She enjoyed cooking, gardening, quilting and volunteering at the former Ten Thousand Villages shop in Columbiana.

Besides her parents and husband, Alverda was preceded in death by siblings Gladys Yoder, Fern Schweitzer, Bernetta Hennigh, Floyd Stoltzfus, Florence Schrock, and Reuben Stoltzfus.

Alverda will be greatly missed by brothers Gerald and Merlin Stoltzfus; sister-in-law Carolyn Warren; children Daniel of Leetonia, Charlene (Art) Mamis of Hudsonville, MI, Darlene ("Skip") Anderson of Lisbon, David of Leetonia, and Miriam (Matt) Roth of Peoria, IL; grandchildren Jessica (Nate) Wilson, Eliana Roth, Benjamin Roth, and Naomi Roth; and great-grandchildren Hayley and Colin Wilson.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 23 at Midway Mennonite Church, 13376 Columbiana-Canfield Rd, Columbiana, OH with Pastor Ernest Martin officiating.

Friends may call on Monday, May 22 at Seederly-Mong and Beck Funeral Home, 154 S. Elm Street, Columbiana from 6 – 8 p.m. and also one half hour prior to the service, at 10 a.m., on Tuesday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts may be made in Alverda's memory to Midway Mennonite Church.

The family has entrusted Seederly-Mong & Beck Funeral Home in Columbiana, Ohio with the arrangements for their loved one.

Family and friends are invited to visit www.seederly-mongandbeck.com to sign the guestbook or send private condolences.